San Diego NAACP leader ousted by national board

The national leadership of the NAACP suspended San Diego chapter president Francine Maxwell from conducting any business on behalf of the local chapter or even representing herself as a part of the organization, effective immediately.

In a letter to Maxwell dated Monday, the president and chief executive of the historic and venerable advocacy group for Black people across the country said the action was taken because Maxwell has not complied with prior orders.

“You are directed to cease and desist immediately from holding yourself out as a member of the NAACP and as the branch president,” states the correspondence, signed by Derrick Johnson, the national NAACP president and CEO.

Copies of the letter also were sent to the chairman of the NAACP board of directors, its general counsel and the California state conference president.

Maxwell, who has served as the local NAACP official for three years, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the national organization’s decision.

But First Vice President Brian A. Bonner said the branch stands behind Maxwell, and she plans to appeal the decision.

“I was surprised and disappointed to see the action taken by national NAACP today,” Bonner said in an interview. “We will support Ms. Maxwell as she appeals this unwarranted action.

“The branch will continue its important work during these challenging times.”

In September, when the national NAACP appointed an administrator to take over the San Diego branch operations and finances, Maxwell said she had done nothing improper and complained that national NAACP leaders denied her due process.

According to the letter Monday, Maxwell failed to adhere to a national NAACP order installing Alphonso Braggs as the administrator in charge of San Diego branch operations.

“Unfortunately, despite repeated requests from Administrator Braggs, you have failed to comply with the national NAACP’s directive,” Johnson wrote.

“More specifically, you have failed to add Administrator Braggs to the branch’s bank account,” he added. “In addition, according to Administrator Braggs, you have declared that no checks will be written.”

Johnson also noted that the San Diego branch has failed to fill the branch secretary vacancy and violated national NAACP bylaws and policies.

“Your continued recalcitrant conduct will cause irreparable harm to the association and the branch,” he wrote. “I am satisfied that your continued membership in the association presents a danger of harm to the NAACP.”

Maxwell, who is widely sought for commentary on San Diego County politics, has run afoul of the national NAACP leadership several times.

Most recently, the San Diego branch publicly opposed the nomination of former San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten as deputy U.S. secretary of education in the Biden Administration.

Earlier this year, Maxwell was the subject of a complaint to the national NAACP from San Diego branch members.

Details of the complaint were not disclosed at that time but some NAACP members suggested the allegations had to do with a contested election for leadership seats in the San Diego branch and certain policy decisions.

Braggs was appointed as branch administrator shortly after those complaints were received by the national board.

Maxwell is the second local NAACP leader in a row to be unseated by national NAACP leaders.

Early last year, Clovis Honoré was suspended from his service as branch president for reasons that were not publicly disclosed. Honore, another longtime volunteer and activist in San Diego’s Black community, disputed the penalty.

“If they have a reason to kick me out, all they have to do is say what it is so the San Diego community I serve can know why,” he told the Union-Tribune last year. “The NAACP owes San Diego at least that.”

National NAACP officials declined to discuss their reasons for suspending Honoré in 2020. But the former San Diego branch president said he thought it might be related to the California group’s policy on charter schools.

The NAACP, formerly known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, dates back to 1909 and is the oldest civil-rights organization in the United States.

It is dedicated to advancing racial equity and promoting social justice.

The San Diego branch celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2019.